No Kingfishers left in Balbriggan?

Morpheus

years ago as a kid I used to "fish" for pinkeens and sticklebacks and newts (wit buckets and nets) on the canal in balbriggan (river bracken)

Anyway was reading something on the web and suddenly it triggered a memory of watching beautiful blue and red Kingfishers flashing back and forth under the concrete bridges that we were fishing under. They were used to us and never shied away when we climbed into the river.

I noticed no mention of them anywhere and have no idea if they are recorded as ever having bred there or lived in a habitat there but I guarantee that they did at some stage about 25 years ago (christ im old now!)

I am down that way quite a lot and have not seen them in recent memory.

dodderangler

Is there any signs f mink out that way? They often get into the nest and kill the adults

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Coincidentally, Dublin birding reports on 2 at malahide this week and I had two on my local river 2 weeks ago after an absence of 18 years. Birdwatch Ireland acknowledges the impact of Mink and Rats on Kingfisher numbers but place a strong emphasis on loss of fish species such as stickleback and minnows on their decline.

Morpheus

maybe us ten year olds overfished the river lol

but hopefully one day ill see them again. truly beautiful sight to watch

Eoghanroe

Saw one today below the waterfall in the overgrown bit behind what was debruns

Morpheus

Wow really!!??? you should report that to birdwatch ireland!!!! that area is apparently scheduled for redevelopment at some stage

cd07

Fish a lot around the beaches and rocks in balbriggan and regularly see kingfishers and otters if u know where to look😉

gzoladz

I see them often along the Dodder, usually between Milltown and Terenure.